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SARAH TAYLOR: Sussex clarify recent speculation

The past 24 hours has seen a significant amount of speculation relating to Sarah Taylor debuting for the Sussex Second Eleven this season. Whilst the Club can confirm that initial and informal conversations have taken place between Sussex coaching staff and England Women’s Coach Mark Lane it needs to be stressed that these are at a very embryonic stage.

Sussex hold the abilities of Sarah, and indeed her Sussex and England playing partner – Holly Colvin – in very high regard, and to this end Sarah could, theoretically, solve our short term dilemma surrounding our Second Eleven wicketkeeping place with both Academy keepers Callum Jackson and Leo Cammish still in full-time education and therefore unavailable for the early part of the season.

Sussex at the moment are going look at all available options including the possibility of using Sarah. In her case the first step would involve practising with the Second Eleven and to re-evaluate from there.

Sussex’s Professional Cricket Manager Mark Robinson said, “Our Second Team Coach Carl Hopkinson has spoken to Mark Lane about the fact we might be short of a wicketkeeper for the early part of the summer.

“There may be an opportunity for Sarah in the future but at the moment the key thing is for her to train with the Second Eleven. Then we can see if she has adapted to the environment and then if we have an opportunity to play her, we can potentially take it a step further.”

Head of England Women’s Cricket Clare Connor said, “Sarah Taylor and Holly Colvin are highly skilled cricketers who have progressed through the Sussex system including the Sussex Academy under the guidance of Keith Greenfield. Their potential, as with most young cricketers, is still to be fulfilled despite both players having already achieved so much for England in World Cups and Ashes Series.

“Any opportunity for our players to be challenged and for their development to be accelerated beyond the norm would be welcomed, so long as those opportunities tallied with the player’s stage of development. There is no getting away from the fact that this dialogue with Sussex CCC is a hugely positive step for the game and our players. It is indicative of how the women’s game has progressed in recent years if players are turning heads in this way. I think it is also fantastic to know that first class counties are open to such possibilities.”

“As a Board Member of Sussex CCC, it is pleasing that the Club is demonstrating an open-minded and innovative outlook to the game. Everyone at Sussex is a champion of the women's game and, as such, we have a robust County structure that has produced 7 international players in the past 12 years.”

Above: Sarah Taylor in action for England Women last season in their T20 international against West Indies at Hove (Photo: Clare Turnbull)